Many garden and garden lovers know that river sludge can be used as fertilizer. Why it is useful, how often its use is permissible, in what quantities - these are questions that become more and more urgent with the approach of spring and the beginning of the summer season. Before giving answers, you need to find out what river sludge is. In addition, there are several different species of this breed, which will also be discussed below.
What is river sludge?
The definition of this substance can be formulated as follows: soft rock, which consists of organic and mineral components deposited at the bottom of various reservoirs. When dried, it resembles the earth, but has a more loose structure. In turn, answering the question “what is river sludge?”, We can say that this is a breed that accumulates exclusively in rivers and therefore has its own characteristics.
Types of sludge
This breed is swamp, lake, pond and river. Sludge from the bottom of ponds, as a rule, can contain a large number of harmful substances that will have a negative effect on country plants. For example, the composition of such sludge includes humus acid and an iron oxide salt. To eliminate all the dangerous consequences of using this breed as a fertilizer, it is necessary to expose it to air, heat and high humidity. Due to this, the decomposition of acids and salts will occur and the output will be a loose mass with a high content of minerals, nitrogen, potassium, sodium and phosphate acid. This recycled sludge is ideal for fertilizing the earth.
One way to obtain fertilizer from pond sludge is to stack it in small heaps in which it is mixed with lime and / or ash for faster decomposition, and covered with a layer of manure from above.
Lacustrine and river silt are valuable and micronutrient substances. In summer cottage and agriculture they are used as organic fertilizers, which contain a lot of phosphorus, but little potassium and nitrogen. Lake silt is also called "sapropel". It favorably affects sandy soils, but is also effective on heavier lands.
Swamp mud is rich in nitrogen. It is even more in it than in the highest quality manure. In addition, it is good for composts, due to its ability to neutralize feces and make them safe for use.
Features of river sludge
Such a rock can be used as a composter for complex substances such as sawdust or bark. It is perfect for heavy soils due to the high sand content. But sludge should not be used immediately, as soon as it was obtained from the bottom. In order for it to become as effective as possible, it is better for river sludge to lie down for at least a year. During this period of time, it will oxidize, salts of heavy metals will leave it. In the future, it should be used at the rate of up to 3 kilograms per square meter of land.
Silt in the country, in the garden and the greenhouse
Such a mineral formation will always improve the quality of the soil and become a wonderful nutrition for plants. It will help them cope with adverse conditions and contribute to accelerated growth. This is a very valuable material for fertilizer. And if you have the opportunity to use it - never give up this idea. But before using sludge, it is necessary to know its composition and the conditions under which it was formed.
As you know, the best is lake silt. Sapropel - and soil, and fertilizer, and a good antiseptic. River sludge should be extracted from those rivers into which effluents of harmful waste are not produced. This dried fertilizer is ideal for potatoes. Pond sludge is best added to compost and kept for one year. In this case, the output will be an excellent product, rich in lime.
Now that you know what river sludge and its "siblings" are, you can determine which species meets your requirements more.